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This seems like what I hoped The Lion would be. My skin just ate The Lion. At first, I thought Jacob's Ladder might do the same thing, but while it's subtle, it's sticking around and staying interesting. Definitely golden amber, supported by subtle, musky, spiciness. It's exotic without being in your face. I could see using this as a meditation blend if in the mood for something gentle and quiet.

I never ordered this one because the description didn't appeal to me. I didn't think the notes would work on my skin. Then . . . I received a frimp in a recent order. What a wonderful surprise!!! I got the lemon very briefly, and at first thought it might be a nice, light, sweet scent for some nice, light, sweet occasion, but it settles into something very different. Definitely an undertone of something darker (and wonderful) under the sweetness. I think there will be a bottle at some point.

First out, pungent herbs, overpowering. Within seconds . . . really . . . seconds, the excessive pungency was gone and it was summer garden herbs, a touch of neroli with amber for underpinnings. The patchouli and musk, for me, just kept it from flying away. I couldn't really identify them as separate components. Dry and for 30 minutes or so, like taking a nap outside on a summer day -- warm, golden, herbal, slightly floral, relaxing. Could almost hear distant buzzing of insects. Unfortunately, for me, neroli doesn't work with my skin, and it eventually turned a little too sharp. The patchouli and musk probably kept that at bay for a good hour though. I might wear it occasionally anyway, because it's so beautiful that first hour.

I get mostly huckleberry and currant, which may be a good thing because my skin doesn't always do nice things with neroli. For me, it might be a little too fruity to wear out and about as a scent, but it could be lovely just for me on one of those dreary, late-winter days when it seems like spring will never come. It's bright, pretty and cheerful.

I tried this twice before reviewing. The first time, I wasn't sure I was going to like it, and the second time, I realized it just needs to be saved for the right mood. Rather than try to pick out and describe notes, I'll just say that this would go with jewel-toned velvet clothing, candle light reflecting off metal and glass, big, soft pillows and exotic music and a glass of intense, expensive cabernet. If I were to take this out on the town, it would be to a quiet party with good friends rather than something big and noisy. Even though it's on the intense side, it's not noisy. Not big throw, but that seems to fit with the intimate quality I get from it. Not sure I'll buy a bottle, but I'll definitely use the imp.

My nose seems to have a hard time detecting this one. Or perhaps it's just very, very subtle. I get the faintest hint of something a little sharp in the beginning. Perhaps lavender, although that isn't mentioned. Perhaps there is lavender in the "ambrosia." After a few minutes, the ginger just pokes through in a nice, but faint way. Finally, lastly, I get the honey in the background, but again very faint. I like this, but wouldn't buy a bottle because it's so hard to detect. Edit: One hour later, surprise, there seems to be more scent there. The components are more integrated, and while it's still too faint for me, it has become something quite elegant and beautiful.

This one really changes and moves after it has been on my skin for awhile. In the beginning,the dragon's blood might be a little strong, but as it dries the musks come out. The fig and currant offset the musk and dragon's blood, then, very briefly, it turns too musky. That phase lasts just a few minutes, the fig and currant resurface, and the whole thing blends beautifully. I like it.

I've held off reviewing this because it is complex, and what I might want to say about it is added to, day by day. I haven't been around BPAL long enough to know Snake Charmer, but I get the comparisons to Snake Oil. However, if I were to make a comparison, it would be to say that this is Snake Oil all grown up. Not as sweet, not as forward, more subtle, deep and mysterious. It wears a slinky, sophisticated grown woman's evening dress rather than a mini skirt and boots, but the same essential spirit lives inside. I find that less is better. I tried tiny dabs first and fell in love. Later, I slathered and realized that had I slathered first, I might have concluded that it wouldn't work on me. Subtle allows it to really shine forth. More like emanate I see multiple bottles in my future.

This is really, really nice. I say this with some surprise because BPAL's "naughty" blends are often too heavy on me. Love them in the bottle, but can't wear them. This one starts out with lots of tonka and chardonnay, with the chardonnay fading fairly quickly. As it dries, the tobacco and leather come out and mix with the tonka in a nice, edgy way. I really like this stage. After an hour, tonka and a faint background of fruit -- maybe the chardonnay resurfacing. Much less throw now, and if I wanted to be noticed in a crowd, I'd reapply.

At first I thought this might not work because of the intense verbena. When the lemon backed off, the remaining luscious, exotic sweetness didn't last long. However . . . Wait until the lemon dies back, then apply again, and wait some more, and OMG, it's gorgeous. I can't pick out any of the specific notes (past verbena I mean), but I suspect some of it is fig as that works well for me. It is luscious, sexy, exotic and rich. I wore some on my wrist to an accounting class tonight, and kept myself entertained all evening. The throw isn't huge, so it can work in situations like that.

Wet and right on through -- sweet coconut cake, with just a hint of pineapple. Drydown -- sweet, but specific notes fading. Nice, but too foody for me. I don't need to smell like cake. However, I would wear it if I needed to hunker down and disappear into comfort, all by myself. If I needed to settle onto the sofa in a soft fluffy robe and read some fantasy to get away from the world for awhile, I could see including Drink Me.

Initially (wet and early dry-down), spicy, perfumey, but nice perfumey. Perfumey and I often don't get along, but I like this. Nothing went soapy or sharp. Fun, playful. As drydown proceeded, the perfume receded into the background until it became predominantly spice with background floral influences. Didn't get much wood from it. Fair amount of throw, but did not last a long time on me. I don't think this is something I would wear as a regular scent, but I will definitely be wearing it around the house when the cold, winter days become dreary and depressing. It will be a fun, lively thing to have in my environment to brighten the world. I might wear it to a winter holiday party, but not to the office. Never did get the salt air. Imp will probably be enough, but I'll enjoy it.

In bottle -- sort of an interesting, boozy quality, but the notes don't jump out until on my skin. Wet on skin -- most noticeable is fig, honey and clove in beautiful combination, booziness completely absent. Y lang ylang in the background adding roundness and beauty, but not assertive. I think I can detect the patchouli, but only as something that supports it all. Early dry-down - slightly sharp, but not unpleasantly so. Some of the roundedness is fading, but something elegant and sophisticated has taken its place. Patchouli still background, still sort of like the floor it sits on, and may be keeping it from being too sweet. Later - less clove and ylang ylang, sharpness is gone, slight patchouli surfacing, still figgy fruit and honey. Settling into warmth and elegance, just slightly sweet, not at all cloying. Love it!

Recently arrived frimp. Thank you lab, as I might not have tried it otherwise!! In imp and wet on skin - strong toasted coconot over some background almond and honey. I don't get the green that many others have. 15 or so minutes later (still a little wet), the coconut fades a little and the fig comes forth. The combination of the coconut, almond and fig is just gorgeous with none of the notes taking over from the others. Sandalwood starts to come forward but not too much yet. Early dry-down, it stays about the same -- beautiful, well-blended, sort of round and luscious. Later dry-down, that lushness fades a little and the sandalwood is more noticeable, but it stays lovely for hours. Bottle on the horizon!!

In the bottle, strong cinnamon with a hint of underlying floral. Wet on skin, oh my goodness, Red Hots! Yes, the little red candies in the cardboard box. I have fairly tough skin, but the cinnamon in this is intense and left my forearm red and burning. Drydown, cinnamon fades and rose asserts itself with a spicy component. I think rose lovers would enjoy this, but my skin turns it to laundry soap. I might save the imp and put it in an oil burner on some cold, dreary winter night. Might be just the ticket.

DCXIX (619, I think) First sniff from the bottle, I thought "Oh no, I'm not going to be able to wear this." Not bad, and not anything I could readily identify, but not something I would wear. Wet on skin, immediately changed to something unusual and slightly foody, but in a good way. Not sweet or cloying. It grows on me immediately. Reminds me just a little of Red Lantern but without the specific coconut or Asian spice notes -- just the overall picture. I love Red Lantern. 30 minutes later -- spicy, resiny, slightly herbal with just enough floral to round it out. I almost didn't order one of these because so many florals and citrus don't work on me. What I got couldn't be more perfect. I'm thrilled!!

In the bottle -- grass. Wet on skin -- grass. Drydown -- grass fades, leaving faint undertone of spices and amber. Once the grass settles down, this is lovely, but on my skin I almost can't smell it. It's beautiful but faint for 10-15 minutes, then it's gone. Hubby could smell it just fine and got cinnamon on his skin with no grass, so it's some weird skin and nose reaction with me. Had great hopes for this one based on reviews, but this 5 ml bottle is off to swaps. Next day -- I get almost no grass at all, either in the bottle or on myself. I do get very faint spicey, amber notes, but can still barely smell it. Will be swapping it, but it has been a most interesting morphing experience.

In the bottle, lovely powerful scent that I wouldn't wear as everyday perfume, but would absolutely wear to an outdoor ritual in late Fall. Strong juniper and possibly other conifer, patchouli, and more that I can't pinpoint. Wet on skin -- Juniper too strong. Husband says "pine sol." Dry, after 10 minutes -- oh no, that rose that smells like sharp laundry detergent on me. After 15 minutes, the rose calms down, but still too sharp and soapy. After 30 minutes, faint dusty rose, not as sharp but still a little soapy. Softer rose and patchouli coming through again. Ten minutes later, just sharp soap over some background, faint floral. I will keep the imp though and use it as a winter room scent. The blend is lovely -- it just doesn't work with my skin.